Veritypolling Place Operations Training Agenda

VerityPolling Place Operations Training Agenda

Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

Audience: Verity Scan and Touch Writer with Access operators (poll workers)

Objectives: This course provides poll workers with an overview of the Verity system and the benefits of using Verity. After completing this course, the trainee will successfully set up and run the Voting Equipment, open polls, instruct and assist voters, and suspend (and reopen) or close the polls.

Teaching Method: The teaching methodology is “show, then do, then review”. This is a hands-on course; exercises will be done in small groups with the instructor giving guidance direction (e.g., picking certain poll workers to practice a step). Timing is crucial, so start on time.

Manuals: Polling Place Operations Guide

Other Materials: Voting devices predefined with training election using Verity Keys and vDrives. Lab stations should have logs and extra printer paper. Other recommended items include Voter instruction flyers.

Modules: 12

Prerequisite: None.

Assessment: Simulated polling place exercise.

Benefits of Verity:

·  Usability – Verity makes election administration and voting easier, by providing user-friendly tools that reduce complexity and streamline productivity.

o  Modern, intuitive, friendly software design.

o  Innovative hardware that is easy to store, transport, set up and operate.

o  Usable, plain language ballot design and reporting.

·  Adaptability – Verity is designed to support any kind of election, and to be flexible enough to change as your needs change.

o  Verity Election Office election management and the Verity Voting system follow a unique “ecosystem” approach that can respond to legislative changes and support new applications over the long term.

o  Modular parts allow Hart to convert Verity devices from electronic to paper and back, as your jurisdiction’s needs evolve.

·  Transparency – Verity provides for open, secure and easily auditable elections.

o  Store images from Verity Scan scanning devices.

o  Robust filters to print and export ballot images from Verity Central, with adjudication notes, if desired.

o  Built-in Auditing Dashboard in Verity Count, to export Cast Vote Record data according to your specific needs.

o  Usable, easy-to-read plain language audit reports from every software application.

o  Easy, efficient methods to validate software on voting devices and desktop workstations.

Module 1: Getting Started (Timing: 5 minutes)

·  Teaching Method for this Module: Presentation only

·  Introduction: greetings; use of “Parking Lot” for questions

·  Course format: this is a two hour course where instructor will explain the process and steps, demonstrate those steps and then trainees will “do”. Most activities will take place at the workstations.

·  Survey class (show of hands) to identify experience levels of trainees

·  Benefits of Verity

·  Polling place user guide overview

·  Verity Security Features

·  Course Objectives

·  System Overview and Components

Ø  No Exercise

Module 2: Polling Place Planning (Timing: 5 minutes)

·  Teaching Method for this module: Presentation only

·  Polling place layout

·  Checking supplies

·  Contingency plans

Ø  No Exercise

Module 3: Setting up the Polling Place (Timing: 20 minutes)

Note: Number of booths per lab station is dependent on implementation.

·  Teaching Method for this module: Presentation and Hands-on

·  Step 1: Set up Touch Writer voting booth(s)

·  Step 2: Set up Verity Touch Writer(s) (lock tablet in operational position)

·  Step 3: Set up ballot printer(s)

·  Step 4: Set up Scan ballot box

·  Step 5: Set up the Verity Scan (lock tablet in operational position)

·  Step 6: Power on devices

Ø  Hands-on Exercise 3.1: Set up Touch Writer with Access and Scan equipment and power on.

Module 4: Device Orientation (Timing: 5 minutes)

·  Teaching Method for this module: Presentation only

·  Orientation to device

o  Screen

o  Ballots, Sheets and Lifetime Counts

o  AC and Battery power indicators (battery level on start up report)

o  Poll worker Button

o  Thermal Printer operation

o  Explain/demonstrate how passwords are entered

Ø  No Exercise

Module 5: Start of Day Procedures (Timing: 5 minutes)

·  Teaching Method for this module: Presentation only

·  Printing the Zero Tape Report

·  Verifying polling place

·  Opening the Polls

Ø  No Exercise

Module 6: Working with Voters (Timing: 20 minutes)

·  Teaching Method: Presentation only

·  Helping Voters

o  Protecting voter privacy

o  Best practices for assisting voters

·  Assisting persons with disabilities

o  General considerations

o  Available accommodations

o  Verity Access controller

o  Access accessories: headphones and input devices

o  Modifications for voter instruction flyers

Ø  Exercise 6.1: Pair up with another trainee. Take the roles of voter and poll worker. The poll worker will walk through the voting process with a voter who is “blind”. This includes signing the qualification log, escorting the voter to the booth, giving verbal orientation to the Verity Touch Writer touch screen, Verity Access peripheral buttons and headphones, having the voter enter the Access Code, and the “voter” voting by responding to the audio prompts only.

Module 7: Voting with Touch Writer (Timing: 10 minutes)

·  Teaching Method: Presentation and demonstration

·  Touch Writer Voter Instructions

o  Adding Voters/Ballot Styles

·  Identifying correct ballot style/precinct for a voter

·  Deactivating an access code

o  Touch Writer help buttons and features

·  Help button

·  Language button

·  Audio button

·  Screen button

·  Marking ballots with Touch Writer

o  Select language

o  Enter Access Code with the Touch Screen

o  Begin voting

o  Make ballot choices

o  Review choices on the summary screen

·  Printing ballots

·  Write-in voting

·  Printing blank ballots

·  Spoiling a ballot

·  Printing Access Code reports

Ø  Demonstration Only: Instructor gives voter instructions to the group.

Module 8: Hand-marked ballots (Timing: 5 minutes)

·  Teaching Method: Presentation only

·  Issuing and voting hand-marked ballots with Verity Scan

Ø  No exercise

Module 9: Voting with Scan (Timing: 10 minutes)

·  Teaching Method: Presentation and demonstration

·  Scan Voter Instructions

o  Scan help buttons and features

·  Help button

·  Language button

o  Voting with Verity Scan

·  Make ballot choices by filling in the box next to your selections with a black or blue pen, or by using Verity Touch Writer

·  Insert the voted ballot into the scanner and follow scanner screen directions to cast your ballot.

Ø  Demonstration Only: Instructor gives voter instructions to the group.

·  Processing overvotes

·  Processing undervotes

·  Scanning problems

·  Provisional ballots (do not feed into Scan – local process only)

·  Unscanned ballot bag & Emergency ballot slot

Ø  No Exercise

Module 10: End of Day Procedures (Timing: 10 minutes)

·  Teaching Method: Presentation only

·  Suspending and re-opening polls (Early Voting)

o  Touch Writer

o  Scan

·  Closing Polls (Election Day)

o  Touch Writer

o  Scan

·  Printing and filing reports

·  Transferring vDrives and ballots

·  Packing up equipment – lock tablet in storage position

Ø  No Exercise

Module 11: Simulated Polling Place Exercise (Timing: 30 minutes)

·  Teaching Method: Hands-on, rotating roles using the User Guide and with Instructor guidance in small groups

·  Rotate roles and run polling places using the Polling Place User Guide as a guide. Walk through:

o  Open Polls per device

o  Add Voters on the Touch Writer

o  Vote on the Touch Writer using touch screen

o  Vote on the Touch Writer using Access with headphones and wheel/button

o  Spoil a ballot on Touch Writer

o  Deactivate an Access Code

o  Print Access Code Report

o  Vote and scan hand marked and Touch Writer ballots (use write-in if available)

o  Change the device thermal’ printer paper

o  Suspend and Re-open the polls OR Close the polls

o  Print and file reports

o  Break down and pack up equipment

Ø  Hands-on Exercise 11.1: Complete the simulation tasks above

Module 12: Review and Conclusion (Timing: 10 minutes/variable)

·  Teaching Method: Presentation and Q&A

·  Reminder: Voter Instructions

o  Touch Writer with Access – use your own words, with the script as a guide… keep it simple

·  Language, if applicable

·  Access Code

·  Navigate and mark ballot

·  Review Summary Page

·  Print ballot

o  Scan - use your own words, with the script as a guide… keep it simple

·  Fill box and write-in, if applicable

·  Scan and cast the ballot

·  Reminder: Guide to Serving Voters with Disabilities

o  Adopt a service approach – ask, don’t assume

·  Power Supply best practices

·  Polling place security recommendations

o  Secure access to the physical facility

o  Secure delivery procedures

o  Restricted access to voting devices

o  Secure booths and voting area

o  Secure ballot/access code issuing procedures

·  Battery only procedures

·  Q&A

·  Evaluation forms

After Class Responsibilities

·  Predefine/prepare equipment for the next class.

·  File sign-in sheet and evaluations in the envelope.

·  Pick up trash and tidy up room.

·  Set out materials for the next class.

·  Make certain equipment is secure.

/ Polling Place Operations
Equipment List
Hardware / Item / Quantity / Ratio / Notes
Verity Scan / 1: Lab station and 1 for presentation
Verity Touch Writer / 1: Lab station and 1 for presentation
vDrives / 2:Voting Device plus spares / Set up with Training Election
Verity Key / 1: Lab station and 1 for presentation / Set up for Training Election
Verity Touch Writer Ballot Printer / 1: Lab station and 1 for presentation
Verity Scan Ballot Box / 1: Lab station and 1 for presentation
Verity Touch Writer Booth / 1: Lab station and 1 for presentation
Verity Battery packs / 1:Voting Device
Headphones/Jelly Switches / 1: Lab station and 1 for presentation
Power strip(s)/Surge protectors/UPS devices / 1:Lab station, 1: presentation station, and 1: projector/laptop
Extension Cords / 1:lab station and 1 for presentation table
Presentation Laptop / 1
Documentation / Item / Quantity / Ratio / Notes
Polling Place Operations Course Pack / 1
Polling Place Operations Guide / 1:1
Poll Worker’s Field Guide / 1:1
Marked Ballots / ~50-100
Blank Ballot Stock / ½ ream: Lab station
Voter Instruction flyers / Samples
Reconciliation Logs / 2:Lab station
Pollbook (demonstration) / 1
Spoiled Ballot Logs / 2:Lab station
Ballot and Seal Certificates / 2:Lab station
Daily Reports envelopes / 1:Lab station
Emergency Ballot envelopes / 1:Lab station
Other logs as appropriate to implementation / 1:Lab station / EX: provisional ballot log and envelope, etc.
Sign-in Sheet / 1:class
Training Evaluation forms / 1:1
Nondisclosure agreements / 1:1
Miscellaneous
o  Miscellaneous / Item / Quantity / Ratio / Notes
Isopropyl wipes / 1 pack
Scanner test sheets / 1 / Emergency use
Scanner calibration sheets (set) / 1 / Emergency use
Scanner gap gauge / 1 / Emergency use
Device battery charger / 1
Pens / 1:1
Clipboard(s) / 1
Screwdriver(s) / 1
Laser Pointer / 1
LCD Projector / 1
Presentation Screen / 1
Device Security Seals / 1 / 1:Lab station / Demonstration only
Polling Place I.D. List / 1
Device Passwords List / 1
Thermal paper rolls / 1:Device plus spares
Ballot Box/ Device Keys (sets) / 1:Lab station/ 1 spare

Lab Station Layout/Materials

Suggested Classroom Layout

POLLING PLACE OPERATIONS COURSE

Trainers: 1

Jurisdiction Personnel: 1

Trainees: Will vary, usually 10-12 (25) max

Time allotted per session: 2-3 hours

Hart Responsibilities for materials/equipment on site (if class taught by Hart representative):
·  LCD projector (if not available on site)
·  laptop for presentation
·  laser pointer
·  Sign-in Sheet
·  Training Evaluation forms
·  Nondisclosure agreements
·  Polling Place Operations Course Pack
COUNTY/SITE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT

6661-003 A Verity_1.0_Course Pack_Polling Place Operations4